Ricky Carmichael’s supercross title defense is on track after 5
AMA Supercross races, but his closest challenger
Chad Reed, says the gap is getting closer. The best main event of the year so far concluded at the third Anaheim event with Carmichael less than a half second ahead of Reed.
Ricky Carmichael does a little whip to celebrate his win in Anaheim.
Carmichael now leads the championship by 9 points, but Reed is still leading David Vuillemin in FIM points, which includes the two international rounds at Geneva and Arnhem. Carmichael did not race the international rounds and is not part of the scoring for the FIM title.
Just like every event so far, Reed made the heat races some of the hardest fought and most exciting. This time it was Reed and Mike LaRocco fighting hard for the win in a heat race, but at one point Reed had the inside line on a turn and drifted out, just when LaRocco went wide and pinned it, slamming into Reed and sending them both to the ground. Reed still got up and won, LaRocco went to a semi. Reed commented that he was a little old to be making such a move, and LaRocco did admit the mistake.
FIM world motocross GP champion Mickael Pichon was also racing, his first supercross in America several years. Pichon finished second to Carmichael in a heat race, but crashed on the first lap of the main and pulled off due to a broken front brake.
The track was unusually flat and hard packed in some places, and it featured a unique split section where riders took one of two paths that converged three turns later back into one section. The start was split 50/50 but the riders favored the right side during the races.
Australian Michael Byrne led the first lap, and he held off both Ezra Lusk and Carmichael until almost the halfway point. Carmichael’s start wasn’t as good and he spent the first few laps patiently waiting to find his groove and stay out of trouble. Three seasons ago Carmichael would have been pinning it to get into the lead quickly, but his experience showed this time, and it paid off.
Many of the other top riders had trouble and crashed out. Besides Pichon out on lap one, LaRocco and Sebastien Tortelli made contact. LaRocco pulled off with a sore shoulder and Tortelli due to his knee. Also, Yamaha’s
Tim Ferry went off the track and hit the floor, sending him to the hospital for a chest CT scan, which showed he was OK. Also having bad luck was KTM’s Grant Langston, who threw out his knee during Friday practice without even crashing. He tried to ride a heat race and got more banged up, then he called it a night.
The second half of the main was a chase between Carmichael and Reed, while Reed’s teammate David Vuillemin was working his way past Ezra Lusk, Stephan Roncada, and finally Michael Byrne for third. Carmichael wasn’t on a track surface he likes best, but he was giving it his all and maintaining the lead, even though Reed made a great charge and almost capitalized on a few of Carmichael’s mistakes. In one section there was a long set of whoops just before a triple, and Carmichael bobbled just enough he had to just double in, which gave Reed a chance to make up time and try to pressure him. Carmichael still held on, even though on the very last lap Reed made a drive and finished less than a second behind. Carmichael hit the finish line double jump and turned around and pointed to Reed in the air, and the crowd cheered in approval.
Vuillemin got off to a slow season start, at least for him. This time last year he was leading in points. “(The first US rounds) were tough,” he said. “Since San Francisco I have been feeling much better. I just needed to get a good start and run with these two guys (Carmichael and Reed). I was a little scared working through the pack because I had a crash with Yogi and crashed really hard. I tried to charge the whole race and I did pretty good.”
Vuillemin said the track wasn’t too bad for him. “The passes I made were pretty easy, the whoops were good (for that),” he said. “Byrne was riding really good, he was pretty smooth and he was doing everything perfect. I passed him on the outside after the finish line. He rode a great race.”
“The gap (between Carmichael and I) is getting closer,” said Reed. “I am working hard and so are the guys at Yamaha. Next week is going to be a fun race. I am just taking each race at is comes. It’s such long series. I don’t think this was my best race. Anaheim 1 was because I won so easily. I would like to thank LaRocco for almost taking my toe off. It really wasn’t necessary. I watched it on the reply in the truck. I did a front flip and he did a back flip. Before the main event he kind of eyeballed me and I just shook my head. I think he felt bad he went back and watched it on tape. We talked about it. I guess we both learned a lesson and we can move on.”
On Carmichael’s bobble in the whoops, Reed said, “Both of us were far from perfect. He was making a lot of mistakes and so was I. It was a good race. One time I messed up in the rhythm section and Carmichael was gone. Then he missed jumping the triple and I came right back on him.”
“Anaheim has been really good to me this year,” said Carmichael. “I won twice and got a second place and got my first win of the year here. It’s pretty good. I really don’t like this place. I pulled through and won. My goal every ever time I come to the west coast is I want to come out of here with the points lead. Now I have a 9 point lead and I won three races, so I feel really good. The right side was faster. It is a little tricky in the first turn when you are trying to brake and turn at the same time. The first couple of laps Chad got by me and a couple of people got by me but they were flying all over the place I just let them go ahead and tried to settle in a groove. About lap 4 or 5 I started putting in some good laps and did my own thing. I am still working on trying to put in 20 perfect laps and if I can do that the race will be easier. It was a good night.”
Of the unusual track, Carmichael said. “It definitely had some flat stuff and it was really slick. You had to have a lot of throttle control, which a lot of people think I don’t have, especially on my team. They think I just go wide open. Tonight I had a lot of throttle control. I felt that that was my strong point. I am ready to get out of here and get to some tacky dirt where you can make things happen. There are so many places out there where I want to go faster but I can’t. My bike is still fast but it just sits there and spins. This track was definitely flatter and much harder than any other tracks we have raced on this year. It’s a combination of tire and motor, and twisting the throttle just right. You definitely you have to be calm. I am pretty decent at that.”
250cc AMA Supercross Series Event Results from Anaheim 3
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
2. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
3. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
4. Michael Byrne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
5. Ezra Lusk, Bainbridge, Ga., Kawasaki
6. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki
7. Brock Sellards, New Philadelphia, Ohio, Yamaha
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha
9. Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
250cc AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 115
2. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 106
3. Ezra Lusk, Bainbridge, Ga., Kawasaki, 87
4. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 87
5. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 79
6. Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 63
7. Mike LaRocco, South bend, Ind., Honda 60
8. Michael Byrne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 57
9. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki, 57
10. Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda, 43
250cc THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings, After Anaheim 3
1. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 159
2. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 147
3. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 135
4. Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 121
5. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 118
6. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 78
7. Grant Langston, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 76
8. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha 75
9. Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 70
10. Damon Huffman, Canyon Country, Calif., Honda, 64
125 Report
James “Bubba” Stewart continued to storm the west 125 regional supercross championship with his fourth consecutive win, this one back at Anaheim, and his competition finally had a trouble-free night with no controversial takeouts.
The AMA’s referee Duke Finch held a well-attended rider’s meeting before the afternoon practice, and he told the 125 riders especially he can tolerate a little roughness as the season begins, but things were out of hand and were to stop immediately. Finch made peace with Pro Circuit’s Matt Walker after last weekend’s $1,000 fine, and the team agreed the whole thing is over. Something worked, because for the first time in three races no one had any takeouts to complain about.
Clear Channel and Dirt Wurx, the event promoter and track builder, respectively, threw everyone a curve by putting together the first-ever split track, including a split start. At first the AMA opposed the split start for safety reasons, but as the weekend progressed and the complaints didn’t, the split didn’t seem so odd. On the starts a row of soft banners was placed to divide the track so half of the riders would use one first turn, and half the other. It worked and nothing went wrong, if anything first turn pileups were less common since each turn got 10 bikes instead of 20. Also the holeshot money was doubled-one check for each of the turns.
Pro Circuit’s Eric Sorby took the right side holeshot and got to the part where the track combined to one section first, but Stewart was ahead before the first lap was over, with David Pingree in third, Tommy Harrison in fourth and Walker in 5th. Defending champion Travis Preston was back in 10th and charging through the pack. Also charging was KTM’s Josh Woods, who went from 7th to third quickly, but later he would crash out with a couple of laps to go.
Preston worked his way to second in an impressive charge, but his teammate Chris Gosselaar had a bad getoff over the finish double, ending his night.
Stewart just cruised out front like he did the previous three races, with his only worry being the lappers. At the post race press conference he said it helped to get a good start, and this would be his last 125 race at Anaheim.
Sorby had his best race of the season so far, running in second for two-thirds of the race and holding on to third at the end. “It was a good race for me tonight,” he said. “It was my first podium this year. I am going to train hard this week and make the podium again in San Diego if I can. I am sorry for the taking out Travis at the last Anaheim. The second block pass I made on him was wrong. This race was more pressure than last year. I have been training hard and the bike is better.”
Preston was frustrated he didn’t get a chance to race with Stewart since his time was spent working through the pack. “I have just been having some bad luck and Bubba’s is having good luck,” he said. “But, it’s all over. No one took me out tonight. The split start was giving me headaches all night. I couldn’t figure out if I wanted to start on the left, or the right. That thing really confused me. I didn’t even see James so I had no idea how he was doing (in the main).
Preston went off the track last weekend in the incident that resulted in Walker getting fined, and he said the whole thing was done. “I am over it.” he said. “Now I know that when I ride with Walker I have to look over my shoulder. The way Sorby has been riding, he cleaned up his act a little bit, but I am still watching for Walker. This sucks I wish I could get a start and run with Bubba. That would be a good time. I am really happy with the way I rode this weekend.”
There wasn’t much Stewart could say that he hasn’t already in his 4-race win streak. He is putting in flawless rides and turning faster laps than anyone, and has been getting the starts to help. “My Kawasaki got me off to a great start, I just went out there and rode my own race,” he said. “Here lately I have just been getting off to a lot of good starts. Last year I couldn’t get one out here. It feels good to come back. I have 4 in a row now. The track builder, all those guys from Clear Channel, they did a really good job on track maintenance tonight. There was a lot happening out there. The lappers were taking one line through the whoop section. It was pretty hard.”
Stewart dropped a pretty strong hint that he will make the move to 250s for next season. “When I come back next year, you probably won’t see me on a 125 next year,” he said. “I think I am going to ride Anaheim on a 250. I am looking forward to moving up and we will see what happens then.”
Of the split start, Stewart took advice from his elder teammate Ezra “Yogi” Lusk. “Yogi helped me out (in choosing which side to start), he said the right side was faster. It was good. It definitely worked out to my advantage. I was afraid if I went to the outside someone would pass me,” said Stewart.
125cc Western Regional AMA Supercross Series Results from Anaheim 3
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
3. Erick Sorby, France, Kawasaki
4. Matt Walker, McRae, Ga., Kawasaki
5. David Pingree, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki
6. Sean Hamblin, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki
7. Billy Laninovich, Escondido, Calif., KTM
8. Josh Hanson, Elbert, Colo., Yamaha
9. Tiger Lacey, Wolf Creek, Ore., Yamaha
10. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki
125cc Western Regional AMA Supercross Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 122
2. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 94
3. Billy Laninovich, Escondido, Calif., KTM, 77
4. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., Suzuki, 74
5. Matt Walker, McRae, Ga., Kawasaki, 74
6. Christopher Gosselaar, Corona, Calif., Honda, 65
7. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki, 61
8. Eric Sorby, France, Kawasaki, 59
9. Sean Hamblin, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki, 50
10. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Yamaha 49
